FERNS 



FERNS 



1217 



dilatata, D, Filix-mas, D. pseudo-mas Pinderi, Nephro- 

 dium hirtipes, Polystichum Braunii, P. lobatum and P. 

 setosum. 



The following notes are drawn from experience in 

 cultivation of these native ferns in the neighborhood 

 of Philadelphia. 



Adiantum pedatum prefers light, loose, rich soil in cool, moist 

 shade, with yearly mulch of leaves. Soil conditions are more 

 important than shade. Where established in a wild state will 

 endure the full sunshine coming with the removal of trees until 

 soil conditions change or it is crowded out by stronger plants. 



Adiantum Capillus-Veneris. Soil conditions about the same. See 

 that leaf-covering is not of too large and heavy leaves. 



Asplenium acrostichoides. Culture as A. Filix-foemina. 



Asplenium angustifolium thrives on rich rather moist soil in 

 shade. Avoid complete removal of fronds when planting in early 

 fall, as this fern quickly sends up new fronds to the weakening of 

 the following season's growth. 



Asplenium Bradleyi. A small rare fern. See Camptosorus and 

 A. pinnatifidum for cultivation. 



Asplenium ebenoides. Culture same as for A. pinnatifidum or 

 Camptosorus. 



Asplenium Filix-foemina. Give good rich loam, moist, with 

 drainage, with some shade. Endures full sunlight in cool climate. 

 A beautiful and extremely variable fern. A number of forms are 

 catalogued. 



Asplenium montanum. Cultivated as Camptosorus or A. 

 pinnatifidum. 



Asplenium pinnatifidum. A small evergreen fern found in the 

 wild in cool shaded places in which there is an uniform amount of 

 moisture in the soil and when the air is not given to quick extremes 

 of temperature and humidity. Ferns of this character need about 

 the same careful placing as do real alpine plants. Planting between 

 stones is advisable. No winter cover, no bare soil and no plant 

 stronger-rooted than a moss near it. 



Asplenium platyneuron prefers partial shade. Care must be 

 taken to prevent smothering by leaves, and to plant where the least 

 likely to be heaved by frost. It is found most plentifully as a native 

 on banks growing with grass and other plants in partial shade. The 

 fronds are evergreen, but become discolored in severe weather. 

 Any good loam suits it. Easy to move at any season but difficult 

 to maintain in masses. 



Asplenium resiliens (A. parvulum). Culture of A. platyneuron, 



Asplenium, Ruta-muraria. Culture same as A. pinnatifidum. 



Asplenium Trichomanes. A small fern growing well where A. 

 platyneuron does. The shade of a small rock will suit it. 



Asplenium viride. See A. pinnatifidum for culture. 



Camptosorus rhizophyllus. WALKING-LEAP FERN. In wild state 

 is found in cool, shaded positions not subject to excessive drought 

 or moisture. It prefers a moist atmosphere but this is not necessary 

 for good growth but where the best soil and atmospheric condi- 

 ditions prevail the leaves often attain a length of 18 inches before 

 rooting. Avoid all winter covering. 



Cheilanthes. Low-growing rock ferns generally doing well in 

 fairly dry positions. C. lanosa prefers deep shade and more moist 

 soil. C. lanosa, C. tomentosa and C. Fendleri at least of the species 

 are perfectly hardy at Philadelphia. 



Cryptogramma acrostichoides should have shade throughout year. 



Cystopteris bulbifera. Will do well in usual deciduous shade in 

 any loam, but grows best and produces far more numerous bulblets 

 when planted on a moist bank of gravelly soil in the shade of 

 kalmia. 



Cystopteris fragilis should be planted in shade in positions where 

 it will receive no covering of leaves. The fronds die in early August 

 in the drier situations. It will grow in positions which become 

 exceedingly dry in midsummer. It forces well in a coolhouse. 



Dennstxdtia punctilobula (Dicksonia pilosiuscula) prefers shady, 

 moist situations where it does not receive any covering by falling 

 leaves of large size. Grows well in sunshine. May be transplanted 

 at any season, and takes kindly to heavy enrichment. The best 

 fern to grow in quantity for cutting during the summer. Can be 

 readily grown as a north border to a shrubbery in any medium to 

 light loam. 



Dryopteris Bootti is found in a wild state in moist, shaded posi- 

 tions, but will grow well in shade in quite dry positions. Does not 

 need shade in winter. Use good loam. 



Dryopteris cristata prefers moist to wet soil in shade. Will often 

 burn with direct sunlight. Evergreen, quite variable. Var. Clin- 

 toniana is larger. The fern and variety appear to need swamp 

 conditions to grow well. 



Dryopteris Filix-mas. Practically the same conditions as for 

 D. marginalis. 



Dryopteris Goldieana prefers deep, moist, rich soil in cool shade. 

 Grows finely in shaded places and soil suited to rhododendrons. 



Dryopteris marginalis wants rich soil in rather deep shade dur- 

 ing the entire year, but will grow well in partial shade and endure 

 even full sunlight, though not growing so luxuriantly. This is one 

 of the native ferns commonly sold by collectors in city markets. 

 It is evidently seldom established by purchasers of plants in full 

 leaf. Once wilted the plants will not recover. 



Dryopteris noveboracensis does best in rather moist, rich soil in 

 partial shade, but will endure full sunlight with good soil con- 

 ditions. Prefers light rich loam. One of the common field ferns 

 growing in large masses either alone or with Dennstsedtia puncti- 

 lobula. When cut it wilts quickly so is of little value for bouquets. 



78 



Easily transplanted at any season. Will not endure heavy mulch 

 of leaves. Not evergreen. 



Dryopteris spinulosa is less common in America than the var. 

 intermedia, which occurs wherever conditions favor its growth. It 

 has the finest cut or divided fronds of any of the large evergreen 

 ferns, being almost the equal of the deciduous fern, Dennstsedtia 

 punctilobula, in this respect. The fronds are gathered extensively 

 for florists' use. In culture, give the same conditions as for Poly- 

 stichum acrostichoides, with heavier shade and more moisture. 

 The best fern to grow under coniferous trees. 



Dryopteris simulata (Fig. 1491) is much like the following and 

 requires similar conditions. It occurs in boggy woods from Maine 

 to Maryland and perhaps westward. 



Dryopteris Thelypteris prefers quite moist situations with at 

 least partial shade. With congenial soil and moisture does well in 

 sunlight. A distinct and pleasing deciduous fern. 



Lygodium palmatum is rather difficult to establish. Give a 

 deep rather moist light loam in partial shade. 



Onoclea sensibilis prefers a rich, moist soil in partial shade or 

 full sunshine. It will also grow in shade. It likes a heavier soil 

 than most ferns and uniform moisture. Does poorly in dry soils. 

 Onoclea Struthiopteris should be given a rich, moist soil with at 

 least partial shade. The fronds will "burn" in fierce sunlight. A 

 good fern to grow north of a wall or building where specimen 

 plants are desired. 



Osmunda cinnamomea prefers moist, partially shaded situa- 

 tions, but will grow well in full sunshine in rich soil not exceedingly 

 dry. Perhaps the most beautiful of the osmundas. Best to move 

 while dormant. 



Osmunda Claytoniana, a native of low ground, both in shade and 

 sunshine, but will grow equally well in rich soil only fairly moist. 

 Best transplanted when dormant. 



Osmunda regalis prefers a peaty soil in very wet, boggy posi- 

 tion in partial shade, but will grow as well in full sunshine if soil 

 is rich and not dry. A very distinct fern. 



Pellsea atropurpurea prefers rather dry positions in partial 

 shade, winter and summer. It will not endure heavy mulching. 

 Will grow in full sunshine, but not to its full size. It may be 

 transplanted at any season. 



Phegopteris Dryopteris prefers good soil in shade not over moist 

 or dry. Avoid coating of leaves. It is a beautiful species and useful 

 for planting on rockwork in shade. The fronds die in August. 



Phegopteris hexagonoptera needs good soil in shade. Fronds die 

 down rather early. Will not grow well through a leaf mulch. 



Phegopteris polypodioides prefers moist, shaded positions, but 

 will grow in any good soil not too dry. The fronds die down in 

 late summer, especially in the drier positions. Any winter cover- 

 ing of leaves must be removed. 



Polypodium vulgare prefers good, light soil in well-drained but 

 moist situations in shade, with no other plants growing with it. 

 It will endure very dry places, but will be dwarfed. Will also do 

 well in full sunlight if soil conditions are good. As a native it 

 grows in positions in which it does not receive any yearly coating 

 of fallen leaves, and, wherever planted, should not be covered with 

 coarse material. Plant perfectly evergreen; height 6 to 10 inches. 

 Polypodium incanum of Virginia and the South is hardy but not 

 vigorous at Philadelphia. 



Polystichum Braunii. This fern needs good deep light loam, 

 not spongy, with humus and shade winter and summer. A distinct 

 and beautiful evergreen fern open to improvement by selection 

 and culture, although belonging to the class of "crown" or "tree" 

 ferns which do not have the chance to vary or "sport" which the 

 species with vegetative roots do. 



Polystichum (Aspidium) acrostichoides should be given shade 

 both summer and winter for best results, and in no case can shade 

 in summer be omitted. The plants will endure sunshine for a few 

 years but will not be thrifty, and will eventually die. One of the 

 more common florists' ferns the Christmas fern the sterile 

 fronds of which are gathered and stored by the million for winter 

 use by florists. They are found on the north side of the hills and 

 the best grade grows not in low ground nor where the soil is shallow 

 but where good loam with no winter leaf covering are the condi- 

 tions. The planting of this fern for the sale of the fronds may 

 become profitable as demands increase and its wild habitats become 

 forbidden grounds to pickers. In culture give (1 ) northern exposure; 

 (2) good corn land; (3) no loose or bare earth between plants; (4) 

 no grass; (5) no real cover of leaves in the fall. Give with these a 

 good supply of moisture such as the lower half of a hillside can 

 easily be made to receive from the overflow from rainfall on the 

 upper half. There must be good drainage. 



Polystichum fragrans. Positions in the wild suggest dense cool 

 moist shade with good drainage. 



Polystichum Lonchitis. Grows well under conditions for P. 

 acrostichoides as far south as Philadelphia. 



Pteridiumaquilinum, to be grown to perfection, should have con- 

 siderable sunlight, with moist, rich soil, kept cool and loose with a 

 coating of leaves or other material. In such a position it should 

 grow to 4 to 5 feet high, with other dimensions corresponding. 

 However, it will grow in almost any position. It has strong, creep- 

 ing rootstocks, so that attention is necessary to keep a healthy 

 group within bounds. The earliest fronds put forth die in late 

 summer, but those of later growth remain green until frost, so 

 that with attention to the removal of dead fronds a group will look 

 well until fall. The rootstocks break or crack easily so that plants 

 are injured by transplanting and grow poorly until again estab- 

 lished. Early spring is the best time to move plants. 



Woodsia. Small rock ferns mostly requiring winter shade and 

 doing best on rock banks facing the north. 



